Apparatus for handling ice cubes



April 5, 1938. L. Q COPEMAN v 2,1i3,(u)14 APARATUS FOR HANDLING ICECUBES Filed March 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet lv INVENTOR.

/ay/ Cope/War?l BYW/MMM ATTORNEYS l April 5, 1938.

l.. G. coPEMAN 2,113,014 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ICE CUBES Fi1ed March20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS,

Patented Apr. 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ausm APPARATUS Fonnessuno ros cUBEs y Lloyd G. (lopernan, Mich.,',sssignor toCopemanliaboratories Company, Flint, Mich., a cor-I p poration ofMichigan Application Marcin zo, 193s, sei-ini No. sasso is om (cl.sz-ssi even though a rubber freezing tray is used. It is, of course,more diicult where a metal freezing tray is used. Also, even though thecubes may be readily extracted from a rubber tray, Vor any other traywith surfacing to Whichthe i'ce does not tightlyadhere, or traysespecially constructed to be exed to release the cubes, the obtaining ofand the handling of the cubes'consumes some time and is aninconvenience.

This invention is directed particularly to structural arrangements in arefrigerator, and a method, whereby the cubes become automatically released from the freezing container, preferably at a time somewhat inadvance of when they are to be used, and to an arrangement for storingthe cubes infrozen form. This is accomplished by provdingcompartmentswhere different tem peratures may be maintained and especially acompartment for receiving an ice tray, .with frozen cubes therein, in aninverted position, the temperature of which is above freezing, andanother compartment ior receiving the cubes of ice and storing them, ata temperature somewhere near the freezing point after they have becomeautomatically released from the inverted tray. Briefly, a tray withfrozen cubes therein is placed in an inverted position in such anenvironment that the cubes become loose and fall out of ,the tray andare directed into a storage compartment. i

Fig. 1 is a view partly in section, illustrating the interior of arefrigerating cabinet and showing a cooling unit such as may be employedin carrying out the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 2--2 ofFig. 1".

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through a part of thecooling unit. A

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a modied form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating a further modied form.

Fig. 6 is a view partly in section and with parts out awayillustrating astill 'further modiiied form.

Fig. is a cross sectional view of a tray structure which may be used incarrying out the invention. l

8 is a. partial cross sectional view illustrating a structure which maybe used in aiding the discharge yoi the cubes foran inverted tray.

Fig. 9 is across sectional view similar to Fig. l

8 showing the 'tray in position.

vi'he walls of ,the refrigerator cabinet are shown at l in Fig. 1, anda. cooling unit, generally indicated at 2, is mounted within the cabi-.net. Except for the particular structureutilized for carrying out theinvention, this cooling unit maybe of any suitable type. 'Ihe coolingunit is provided with a suitable number of compartments I for receivingtrays I suitably partitioned to in turnreceive-water to be frozen. 'I'hecom- ,partients 3 are usually closed at thefront bysuitable means (notshown). Asis customary,`

4 the temperatures of the sharp freezing chambersl 3 are considerablybelow freezing so that the water in the trays is'frozen and ice cubesformed.

The cooling unit. as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, has a lower compartment6 which may be closed by a suitable closure member 1. and 'thiscompartment 6 may receive a storage vessel 8. This cooling unit has anintermediate compartment Il which is preferably open tot the circulationoi' convection currents within the refrigerator. To this end it may beopen on opposite sides as shown at Il, and the front may be open asillustrated at I2. As illustrated herein, three or more ice cube traysmay be used. Two trays may be in the' sharp freezing chambers, as shown,and one withy ice cubes therein may be placed in the compartment il.This tray,.however, is disposed in the compartment Il in an invertedposition as shownl in Fig. 3.

Now preferably, the temperatures in the sharp freezing chambers 3,111the storage compartment v v l. and in the Jintermediate compartment IIIare dierent. By way of example, the following temperstures may bementioned, although the invention of course is not' limited to thesetem- 4peratin'es by any means: the sharp freezing The storagecompartment 6 may be subjected to some refrigeration action to which endthe` unit may have refrigerant passageways I5 for containingrefrigerant, and which extend around the storage compari-ment.

When one anticipates that some ice cubes will be needed, one of thetrays is removed from the sharp freezing chamber and placed in aninverted position in the compartment i0. Due to the relatively hightemperature, the ice will begin to melt and the cubes will become freefrom the tray and will fall by gravity into the compartment 6, and morespecifically into the receptacle 8. Here the cubes are stored andprevented from further melting and are easily accessible for use.

Inasm'uch as the storage compartment is to be maintained at a lowertemperature than an intermediate compartment, it is preferred that somemeans be provided to aid in insulating the two compartments and to aidin preventing air currents from passing into the storage compart-.rnent. To this end a partition i6 is provided to close off the openingI1 between these two compartments. This partition preferably is ofrubber or some other readily flexible material cut through to provideindividually flexible parts.

For example, as shown in Fig. 2, the partition may have a longitudinallyextending cut line I8 and cross cui, lines i9. thus forming individuallyflexible parts or wings 20. Normally these parts lie substantially in acommon plane as shown in Fig. 3. However, when an ice cube falls thereonthe wings will not support the weight and allow the cube to droptherethrough. and then by reason of being flexed shift back to theiroriginal closed position. The eut lines I8 and i9 preferably do notextend through the edges of the partition.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a modified form. Here the sharp freezingchambers are shown at 22 and storage compartment as at 23. A tray from asharp freezing chamber is placed in an inverted position in acompartment mounted near the top of the cabinet and within theinsulation thereof. the compartment being illustrated at 24. A suitablechute 25 leads from the compartment 24 to the storage receptacle 23. Theinside of the chute may be lined with a metal mesh cloth or screen 26 tominimize the tendency of the ice cubes to stick thereto. In this form,the transfer compartment 24 is located outside of the refrigeratingcompartment and is so positioned relative to the outer wall of thecabinet that its temperature will be such as to cause melting andreleasing of the ice cubes.

In Fig. 5 the sharp freezing chambers are illustrated at 30. the storagecompartment at 3|, and the releasing or transferring compartment at 32located inside the refrigerator and exposed to the temperature therein.A` tray is placed in the compartment 32 and as the cubes are releasedthey pass through a chute 33 into the storage compartment. The end ofthe chute entering the storage compartment may be normally closed by aflexible partition 35, such as rubber, which isflexed, ns illustrated bythe dotted lines, when an ice cube slides down the chute and falls intothe storage compartment.

In Fig. 6 there is a storage compartment 36 located out of therefrigerated zone and for receiving a tray of ice cubes with the tray in-inverted position, as shown. The sharp freezing chambers areillustrated at 31 and the storage compartment as at 38 which may beprovided may be used, one being illustrated at 40 for closing thecompartment 36 and one at 4I for closing the storage compartment. Inthis form, as well as in the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the storagecompartment may be refrigerated to anextent to provide the desiredtemperature at or about freezing.

It has been found that a slight agitation or movement or flexing of theice cube tray, or portions thereof, aid materially in the discharge ofthe cubes therefrom. Therefore, means may be used to accomplish thisaction. One way of doing it is that of using a spring 45, as shown indetail in Figs. 8 and 9. This is especially useful with a rubber tray.As an inverted tray is placed into the releasing compartment, asillustrated in Fig. 8, the spring is flexed and it presses downwardlyupon the bottom of the tray which is uppermost,

as illustrated in.\Fig. 9. When the cubes become somewhat melted andbegin to become loose from the walls, the pressure of the spring causesthe tray to be flexed as the spring presses down upon the tray. Thisaids in causing release of the cubes and may shorten the time requiredto eflect release of the ice cubes from the tray.

A further manner of accomplishing this action is that of embodying athermo-responsive element in the tray structure, and in this case thetray may be either of rubber or metal. This is shown in Fig. '7. Thetray here shown may be of rubber and is indicated at 50. In the bottomof the tray is located a bimetallic element 5|. At the temperature atwhich the ice cubes are frozen this bimetallic element may take oneformation.

As for example, it may be substantially straight I as illustrated.However, when the temperature is increased in the transfer compartment,the bimetallic element may flex to in turn flex the tray somewhat asillustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 7. This slight agitation orshifting of the walls of the tray' or parts thereof aids in thedischarge of the ice cubes.

lWhile the invention has been described in eonnection with a domesticrefrigerating cabinet it is, of course. not to be limited thereto. Whenit is anticipated that ice cubes will be needed, or if it be the desireof the person in charge to have ice cubes'readily available, one of thetrays with frozen cubes therein is removed from a sharpl freezingchamber and disposed in inverted position in the transfer compartment.In due course the cubes are discharged from the inverted tray anddeposited in the storage compartment. Only a relatively short time maybe needed, which time may depend somewhat upon the temperature attainedin the transfer chamber upon the presence or non-preseneerof a devicesuch as thc spring or thermo-responsive element, and the effectivenessor amount of movement or agitation these elements give to the invertedtray- In this manner a supply of free ice cubes are stored and areimmediately available for use.

While the invention may be particularly advantageous from the standpointof making icfcubcs, and has been so described, it is to be appreciatedthat the invention may be used with frozen food stuffs, such as icecream or frozen ice delicacies and the like. These substances have awater content and in the claims appended hereto, where it is said thatwater is frozen.

this language is to cover such food stuffs.

I claim: g

1. In a refrigerating mechanism, the combination of a sharp freezingchamber for fri-exim:

water retained in a tray, an auxiliary compart ment adapted to receive atray withvice therein with the trayin inverted position, meansformechanically loosening said ice from said inverted tray, a storagecompartment into whichthe ice is directed when the same has become loosefrom the walls of the inverted tray, and means formaintaining the-storage compartment at about the freezing temperature of water.

2. In a refrigerating mechanism, the combination of a sharp freezingchamber for freezing water retained in a tray, an auxiliarycompartmentadapted to receive an ice lled rtray in inverted position,mechanical means for ejecting said ice fromsaid inverted tray, and astorage compartment in communication with the rst mentioned compartmentmaintained, at a temperature of about freezing for receiving the icefrom the inverted tray by gravity.

3.`l'h a refrigerating mechanism, ythe combi` nation of a compartmentarranged to be maintained at a temperature above freezing and adapted toreceive a tray with ice therein and in an invertedA position, a storagecompartment below the first mentioned compartment and in.

communication with said rst mentioned compartment for receiving ice asthe'sanie is released from the inverted tray by partially meltnation vofacompartment arranged to be maintained at a temperature above freezingand adapted to receive a tray with ice therein and in an invertedposition, a storage compartment below theV first mentioned compartmentand in communication with said'iirst mentioned com-V partment forreceiving ice as the same is released from the inverted tray bypartially melting and falls into the storage compartment by gravity, anda'y partition of rubber between the two` compartments, .said partitionhaving cut lines thereinto provide individuallyfiexible parts which exto permit bodies of ice topass therethrough.

5. In a refrlgerating mechanism, a ,cooling unit having a sharp freezingchamber in its upper portion for freezing watenretained in a tray, acompartment in 'itsintermediate portion adaptv ed to receive a tray withice in an inverted po- L' sition, means for mechanically ejecting iceJfrom said inverted tray, and another compartment in the lower portionof the cooling unit for receiving ice as the same falls by gravity fromthe inverted tray in the intermediate compartment.

6. In a refrigerator, ai cooling unit having(I sharp freezing chambersto be maintained below freezing temperature, a storage compartmentadapted to be maintained at about freezing temperature, anothercompartment located relatively remote from the storage compartment andin a position sothat its temperature is above freezing, said othercompartment adapted to receive a tray with ice therein in an invertedlposition,

and conveying means for conveying the ice from said other compartment tothe storage compartment. y

7. In a refrigerator, a cooling unit having `sharp freezing chambers forfreezing water, a storage compartment, another compartment 1o- -catedabove the refrigerated area of the refrigerator and adapted to receive atray with ice therein with the tray in inverted position, said othercompartment being positioned so that its temperature is maintained abovfreezing whereby the ice partially melts in e inverted tray and becomesreleased therefrom, and a chute connecting saidv other compartment withthe storage compartment for-conveying released ice to the storagecompartment.

8. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having arefrigerated space, a cooling-unit provided with sharp freezing chambers for freezing water, astorage compartment, another compartment located in the upper portion-ofthe said sp'ace and adapted to receive a tray with icevtherein ininverted position, said -other compartment arranged so that the`maintained temperature is abovebfreezing wherebythe ice may partiallymelt and become released from the invertedtray, and a chute fordirecting the released ice from the inverted tray to the storagecompartment. A

9. In a refrigerator', insulated walls defining a refrigerated space, acoolingv unit having sharp freezing chambers, a compartment outside ofthe refrigerated space'and located within the insulation 'of the wallsand adapted to receive a tray containing ice and in inverted position,and a storage compartment below the first mentioned compartment forreceiving and storing ice as the same falls from the inverted tray bygravity.

'10. `In a refrigerator, insulated walls defining a refrigerated space,a cooling unit having sharp freezing chambers, a'compartment outside ofthe 1 falls from the inverted tray by gravity, and means forrefrigerating the vstorage vcompartment and maintaining its temperatureat above freezing.

invertedv tray while vinthe rst compartment. L

. 12. In a refrigerator, the 'combination of a compartment y maintainedabove freezing temperature adapted to receive a tray with ice thereinin'inverted position whereby the ice may par- 'tially melt and becomereleased from the inverted trayf, `a storage compartment positioned Vtoreceive the ice-and store the same when the A same falls by -gravityflereinto from the inverted tray, and a springacting upon the invertedtray for flexing the walls thereof to aid in causing release of the icetherein.

- gravity thereinto from the inverted tray, and

'means for causing movement of the walls of the ice andstore the samewhen the'same falls byn compartment maintained above freezingtemperature adapted to receive a tray with ice therein in invertedposition whereby the ice may partlally melt and become released from theinverted tray, a storage compartment positioned to receive the ice andstore the same when the same falls by gravity thereinto from theinverted tray,

and a thermo-responsive element associated with to iiex the tray to aidin the discharge of ice from the tray.

16. In a refrigerator, a .cooling unit having a sharp freezing chamberfor receiving a. portable unitary container in which ice cubes areadapted 'to befrozen, a storage compartment in thermal conductingrelation with the cooling unit and maintained at or below the freezingtemperature of water, means positioned in dispensing relation to saidstorage compartment for receiving said container filled with ice cubesin inverted position, and means for causing positive ejection of thecubes from said inverted container into the storage compartment.

' LLOYD G. COPEMAN.

